A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
| Year | Citation | Program |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Dr. Ebrahimi developed new biodegradable plastics with different topologies and microstructures to replace their environmentally persistent counterparts. Her comprehensive study provides new approaches towards the development of industrially relevant catalysts for the large-scale production of biodegradable and biocompatible plastics. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. McGregor showed that laser light can illuminate early malignant changes in lung tissue. Through the development of a novel medical device and clinical trial, Dr. McGregor found that adding laser Raman Spectroscopy into routine clinical procedures can help improve early lung cancer detection. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Oncology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Osama introduced a comprehensive framework for identifying, diagnosing and providing solutions for transportation safety issues. He applied this framework in the City of Vancouver, and discovered new insights into bike and pedestrian networks, crash models and hot zones. His work will contribute to policy recommendations for safer active commuting. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Rockwell explored older adults' experiences of moving to assisted living: a relatively new model of housing and support for older adults in BC. By comparing participants' stories with the larger values and regulations of assisted living, Dr. Rockwell identified areas for improvement, as well as promising practices to help residents settle in. | Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Liva developed a theory explaining how women make decisions around physical activity after giving birth. Her work indicated that women considered both the risks and accessibility associated with physical activity to bring their decisions in line with their desires. This research supports potential interventions affecting women's physical activity patterns. | Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) |
| 2018 | In response to a scarcity of research addressing substance use in conflict and post conflict areas, Dr. Blair's work helped shed light on the intersection of mental health, HIV, and substance use in northern Uganda. Findings highlight the need to integrate rigorous evidence with community perspectives and understanding of risk. | Doctor of Philosophy in Population and Public Health (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Tarzemany studied the function of a protein that mediates cell communication in wound healing in skin and oral mucosa, and its relevance for scar formation. Findings from her project may be used to develop effective and predictable therapeutic modalities to prevent and treat scars. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Deng developed a novel strategy to treat non-small-cell lung cancer (or NSCLC) using coxsackievirus type B3 (or CVB3). His studies demonstrated that CVB3 could specifically target and kill KRAS-mutant NSCLC, a non-curable subtype, with minimal damage to normal organs. This finding will aid in the development of oncolytic virotherapy for patients unable to have surgery. | Doctor of Philosophy in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Stranger-Johannessen investigated the African Storybook, a digital initiative that promotes multilingual literacy. Findings indicated that teachers' use of stories expanded the repertoire of teaching methods and topics. The teachers began to imagine themselves as writers and translators, change agents and multimodal, multiliterate, digital educators. | Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Lohani developed new schemes to allocate radio resources in wireless communication networks. She addressed challenges with harvesting energy from the wireless signal and from renewable energy sources. Her findings will contribute towards extending the battery life of user devices and reducing the non-renewable power consumption of network devices. | Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical and Computer Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Wang studied the role of the cytoskeleton in B lymphocytes, which are the antibody-producing cells of the immune system. Using advanced imaging tools, her research showed that the dynamic organization of actin and microtubules controls B cell activation. Her findings illustrate how the cytoskeleton is essential for B cell function. | Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and Immunology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Zamar studied the optimal design and planning of forest and agricultural biomass supply chains. He developed a new mathematical procedure for the design of sustainable, and cost-effective biomass supply chains. His findings aid the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources by mitigating risk in bioenergy production. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Goffin studied the corrosion of epoxy-coated rebar in concrete and its non-destructive detection. Findings revealed insights into the mechanisms of corrosion and that it could not be reliably detected by conventional techniques. She further developed novel techniques of detection that will make our infrastructure safer and more durable. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Diabetes is caused by a loss of the insulin-producing cells found in the pancreas. By studying how the pancreas forms during fetal development, Dr. Krentz uncovered new details about how insulin producing cells form. Her research may improve methods to make replacement insulin-producing cells for those with diabetes. | Doctor of Philosophy in Cell and Developmental Biology (PhD) |
| 2018 | How can we promote informed hope as new research transitions from the bench to the bedside? Dr. Benjaminy explored the ethical challenges in the development of novel biotechnologies for degenerative diseases of the brain. This research integrates the voices of patients, clinicians, and the media to further inform the development of stem cell research in a socially minded way. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Shartau examined various vertebrate species for the presence or absence of a novel pattern of acid-base regulation. He found that numerous adult fishes and the embryos of two reptile species use this novel pattern. This research may provide insight into major evolutionary transitions in vertebrates, including the evolution of air breathing. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Farrokhi studied the field of wound healing for the development of non-rejectable wound coverage. He devised a skin substitute using a novel method to remove cells from skin while keeping the structural components in the skin scaffold relatively intact. This work has significant application in the treatment of burn injuries and chronic wounds. | Doctor of Philosophy in Experimental Medicine (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Obradovich studied how the catch on bottom longline gear changes with the number and species of fish underwater. Underwater camera observations of fish behavior and habitat around the longline hooks showed that catches for some species were not proportional to abundance. Her work will improve the scientific advice used for fisheries management. | Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Tong worked closely with community partners to conduct a study on the physical activity and mobility of foreign-born older adults in South Vancouver. Her mixed-method project was done in five languages and advances our understanding of the health behaviours of marginalized older adults who have often been excluded from academic research. | Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Fazel explored how doctoral students at a Canadian university attempted to publish their research. He also interviewed journal editors to seek their perspectives on the challenges facing doctoral students in getting published. This research has important implications for doctoral education and supervision. | Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching English as a Second Language (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Ochola developed materials that initiate reactions powered by sunlight. The first set converted carbon dioxide to fuel, while the second set was used for organic synthesis. Her work improves our understanding of light-driven reactions, which can be used as alternatives to current methods of preparing fuels, materials and organic compounds. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Pan explored the role that nonverbal cues can play during object handovers between robots and humans. He studied how nonverbal behaviours of both robots and humans can be used to improve the fluency, legibility and efficiency of human-robot handovers. This research illuminates how subtle gestures and cues can enrich human-robot interactions. | Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Zheng developed a method and process to minimize sludge production in municipal biological wastewater treatment. This method reduces operational costs and environmental impacts. | Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. McGregor has characterised a new family of enzymes unique to plants and has shown how an enzyme system produced by a gut bacterium breaks down complex plant carbohydrates. These studies contribute to our understanding of both the production and digestion of plant polysaccharides. | Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry (PhD) |
| 2018 | Dr. Macdonald characterized imaging artifacts in Fourier analysis of noble metal surface states, studied with scanning tunnelling microscopy. He co-developed a new technique for nano-scale location of magnetic atoms on surfaces. These works helped researchers unravel electronic correlations in quantum materials and probe single-atom magnetism. | Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (PhD) |